Dough-dividing machine.



A. F. WARD.

DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FIL'ED OCT. 25. 1911.

Patented June 29, 1915.

tSHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. F. WARD DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATIGN FILED OCT. 2511911.

Patented June 29, 1915. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- A. F WARD. DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.25,19H.

Patented June 29, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. F. WARD.

DOUGH DIVIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.25. 1911.

1, 144,952., I Patented June 29, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

'rial into fractional parts, and has for its pnrrnn srnrns PATENT onrion.

ASHLEY F. WARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE A. F. WARD MACHINERY 00., A GORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

DOUG-H-FDIVIDING I Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 29 1915 Application filed October 25, 191i. Serial no,- 656,998.

' To all whom itmag concern Be'it known that I, ASHLEY F..Wano,.a citizen ofthe United States of America, and a resident of- Bostomin the county of Suffolk andState of Massachusetts, have in} vented certain new and useful Improvements in poug'h DividingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for subdividing a mass of dough or similar matemain object the subdivision of the mass into parts of equal size and weight.

One of the objects of the invention is to divide thedough in such a manner that no portion of raw dough will be exposed, the upper and lower skins being unitedduringthe dividing operation so that each fractional part of the divided mass is completely further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrange- Fig. 3 represents a ment of parts which will be understood by.

reference to the description of the drawings" and to the elaims hereinafter given. Ofthe-drawings: Figure 1 represents a 7: front elevation -of a machine embodying the features of the present .invention.- Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same, the cutting-v plane beingon line 22 on Flg. 1.

horizontal section, the

' cutting. plane being on line 3+3 on Fig.- 2.

Fig. 4 represents; a horizontal section the cutting plane b'eing-on line 4-4 on Flg. 2.

Fig. 5 represents a -partial vertical section,

the'cutting plane being on line 5,- -5 on Fig. 2,"a.'nd Fig. 6 represents. a section through one'of-the divided members.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the, several figures of the draw ings I In- -the.drawings; 10 represents a bed plate from the rearof which project theupwardlyextending'ears 11-11, provided with a pivot member-12,. on which is'mountedthe rear;

betweenathe ears. '1 Y a part of ther: 1 bed plate .10, and to" which the fragme l4 is adapted to be locked by means of the lockmg pins 18 extending through said cars 17 and opening in the cylindrical ends 16. Ex-- tending upwardly from the rear of the bed plate 1O is a stop inember'19ada-p'ted to lunit the inward movement the ;pan 20. This: step niember 19' and, the side guide members 21 formed upon said bed plate 10 serve as a means for accurately positioning thepan '20 beneath the dou h compressing and dividing devices carriedlby the pivoted frame 14. The pan 2O is'preferably made with the side walls. thereof scalloped. and

having at the lower edge thereof a flange 21 to which is riveted a bottom plate 22 of thin sheet metaL- The front exterior wall of the pan 20 isprovided with a handle 23'preferably riveted thereto by which the pan may be readily inanipulated.;, In suitable sockets formed in the side arms 15 of the ivoted frame 14 are secured 'vertic'al rods 24.qthe

lower ends of which pass through and are positioned by ear-s25 formed upon said side arms 15. These vertical rods 24 form guides for the vertically movable plate 26 through 1 openings in which-the 'said rods extend.

This plate 26 is provided with a tubular extension 27 adapted tobe reciprocated in-a bearing-formed in the hub 28 of the pivoted frame This tubular extension 27 is providedwith avertical slot 29 with which the reduced end 30 of a clamp screw 31 coacts.

This clamp screw 31 is threaded in a boss formed upon-the hub 28 and is providedwith an enlarged-portion 32, the inner end of- 'whichis adapted to enter a shallow 'depression in the tubular 'hub'27 to prevent its reciprocation in its hearing when desired.

1 Normally the'clamping screw 31 is so positionedas to permit the free movement of the tubular extension 27 in its bearing. Mounted in the tubular extension 27 is a piston member 33 having a transverse pivot pin 34 extending through a link 35. the Opposite end of which is connected by means of a pinv 36-to the short arm 37 of an operating lever T 38. Thisjlever 38 is provided with a counterweight ,39, which tends to I return the operating lever to its normal backward posi-' tion asshown in Fig. 2 when the lever 38- 0 tic'a1;-- axis of the reciprocating ,piston 33.,

has been moved rearwardly beyond the ver- An adjustablestop 40 is mountedupon the rearwardlyextending arm of :the pivoted frame 14 to limit the rearward movement of said operating lever 38. The operating le- .ver is mounted upon an eccentric tubular member 41 and is secured thereto by means of the set screw 42. Through the eccentric member 41 extends a pivot pin 43 mounted in the upwardly extending cars 44 formed upon the pivoted frame 14. This eccentric tubularmember 41 provides a means for limiting the downward movement of the piston 33 and the plate 45, formed thereon or secured thereto- To the under face of the plate 45 is secured the dividing-member 46 having a plurality of cylindrical perforations 47 therein The division walls between the various perforations 47 have them lower edges slightly beveled as indicated in Fig. 6

of the drawings, so that when this perforated plate is, forced downwardly through a mass of dough contained within the pan 20, .the upper skin of the dough will be forced downwardly and connected with the under skin, thereby causing. all of the fractional parts divided from the mass of dough to bewholly enveloped with the skin so that no portion of raw dough will be exposed. j Should the lower edges of the dividing member-become worn, or should more pressure be desired, when the divisional walls reach a point of contact with the: bottom .plate 22 of the pan 20, the eccentric tubular 'member 41 may be turned slightly about the axis of the pivot pin 43, and by'the set screw 42 secured in its new pdsition. This forms increased leverage. This is of considerable.

advantage, as it makes the work of'the operator much easier when the mass of dough is being compressed and then subsequently divided into fractional parts. The dough dividing member 46 is provided on its outer face with a plurality of semi-cylindrical recesses 48, which are the complement of similar semi-cylindrical recesses formed in the inner walls 49 of the pan 20. The partition ...W a1la.50v between: the semi-cylindrical recesses 48 are provided with alined'faces adapted to abut similar partition walls or ribs 51 extending inwardly from the side walls of the pan 20 between the semi-cylindrical recesses 49. By this construction when the perforated dividingmember 46 has entered the pan 20a plurality of complete cylindrical chambers are formed. In

each of these cylindrical chambers or per-. forations 47 is mounted a plunger 52 having an elongated hub 53 secured to the plate 26 by means of the threaded -members 54. All of these plungers 52 are secured to the plate 26 with the exception of the central plunger, which in lieu of the threaded member 54 has a transverse pin 55 extending therethrough, the end movement of which is prevented by means of the threaded member 54 at either end thereof.

This pin 55 extends through a vertical slot 56 in thepiston member 33,.- the slot 56 providing a means whereby the member 33 may be moved vertically independently of the tubular hub 27 forming a part of the plate 26. In semi-annular grooves formed in the wall of the member 33 are secured the mem bers 57 provided with V-groove's, intoeach of which extends the beveled end of a pin 58 secured to a member pivoted at 60 to the plate 26. To the opposite end of each of said members 59' is threaded a hook 61' adapted to be adjusted therein and held in adjusted position by means of a check nut 62. On each of the hooks 61 is placed a. bail 63, said bails extending in opposite directions and having their ends turned outwardly as indicated at 64.. Surrounding the bails 63 between the out-turned ends 64 is a spring 65 adapted to move the members 59 about the pivots 60 to normally retain the beveled ends of the pins 58in the V-grooves of the members 57. This provides a locking device between the vertically moving member 33 and the tubular hub 27 in which it is mounted, .so that under normal conditions the two members will move in unison. When the operating lever 38 is moved in the direction of the arrow a, and both the member 33 and the tubular extension 27 are locked together, they will be moved downwardlv until'the short arm 37 contacts with the adjustable stop member 66 whichlimits the further downward movement. This would be the operation provided there is no dough in the pan 20, but when a mass of dough has been placed in this pan and the operating lever 38 is moved in the direction of the arrow a the action of the members 33 and 27 will be simultaneous and the dividing member 46 and the plungers 52 contained therein will move together with their under faces in the same plane. This movement will continue until the dough has been compressed sufliciently, at which time further movement of the plungers will be prevented. The. continued movement of the lever 38, however, will cause the piston member 33 with the dividing device 46 secured thereto to be moved downwardly, the

beveled ends of the pins'58 being forced out of the V-grooves in the members 57 against the tension ofthe spring 65 to permit of this ple in construction and may be easily and independent movement of the dividing memer 46.

When the compressing and dividing of the dough into fractional parts has been completed, the return movement of the operating lever about its pivot'pin 43 in the direction opposite to that of the arrow a on Fig. 2 of the drawings, will cause the plunger plate 26 and the dough dividing when the apparatus will. be in condition for another operation. This makes a'very effective dough dividing machine which is simquickly operated.

When the handle has been thrown back until the counterweight 39 strikes the adjustable stop 40 the pan 20 may be removed and the fractional parts divided from the mass of dough may be placed in an. ordinary baking pan, or they, may be baked in the pan 20 and a new pan substituted therefor for the next operation. Preferably a plurality of pans are provided for each machine and as soon as 'fthemass of dough is divided into the fractional parts the pan is immediately removed and placed in the oven. By the use of a'machine of this kind all-hand work upon the'douglr-is dispensed with and the fralztiolial'- "partsirare eovered with a skin inthe slamenfanner as would have been secured after considerable manipulating in the hands of the baker.

Where it is desired to have a crust "overthe entire fractional part it is essential that the various parts shall be removed from the pan 20 and put into an ordinary baking pan and separated so that there will be -no'contact between the various fractional parts.

Where theparts are left in the baking pan 20 and baked therein, during the process of rising the side walls of the fractional parts will come into contact so that in the baking only the upper and lower crust isformed but there remains a marked division between all of the fractional parts so that they are readily separated without handling" when.

the baking has beenaccomplished. One of I the main advantages of this process is that the variousfractional parts are uniform in weight. 7

When it is desired to,clean the apparatus,

the clamping screw 31 is turned until the enlarged threaded portion 32'8111181'5 a recess in the .Wall of the tubular extension 27.

- This member thereupon will be locked to the pivoted frame'h so that there can be no movement of the plunger plate 26 when the operating lever 38 is moved in the direction of the arrow a. When this lever is thus perforations i7 may be thoroughly cleansed.

To facilitate this cleansing operation the frame 14 is pivoted at 12 and ordinarily locked by the pins 18. When, however, it is desired to clean the machine, these pins are removed and the whole pivoted frame with the plungers 52 and dough dividing member 46 carried thereby are moved rearwardly about the pivot 12 so that all the parts thereof are readily accessible.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages-of the invention will be thoroughly understood without any further description. p

Having thus described my invention, I cla m:

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a bed plate; apan therefor;

a perforated member fitting said pan; a plunger in each perforation thereof; an operating lever; means including a crank and pitman operable by said lever for forcing said plungers and perforated member into said pan to compress the dough therein and subsequently moving said perforated member through the dough to subdivide it; and an eccentric bearing for the pivot of said operating lever adapted to be adjusted to vary the movement of said perforated member.

2. A dough dividing machine having, in

combination, a dough pan having substan-- tially vertical side walls the inside faces of which are provided with a plurality of inwardly extending substantially vertical ribs and with partially-cylindrical substantially vertical recesses between the ribs so as to cause the inner faces of the side walls to have a scalloped appearance, said ribs having substantially fiat inwardly facing end faces, a reciprocating dough dividing member'arranged to fit within the pan and having its central portion provided with a plurality of substantially cylindrical chambers the partition walls of which constitute edges for dividing the dough and having its outer Wardly facing flat end faces of the ribs on the pan so as to cause the oppositely facing partially-cylindrical recesses of the dough dividing member and pan respectively to complement each other to formva plurality of substantially cylindrical chambers, and

dough-pressing plungers mounted to reciprocate' in the chambers formed in the central part of the dividing member and in the chambers formed by the complementing recesses of the'dividing member and pan respect-ively, 3. A dough dividing machine having, in combination, a base, a frame having the substantial shape of an inverted U mounted on thebase and having its oppositely-disposed downwardly-extending arms connected at their lower ends to the base, a' dough pan 6 positioned on "the base between the arms, a

dough dividing member mounted to reciprocate in theframe and to be moved down wardly into the pan to divide the dough vided with a plurality of downwardly open-- therein, said dough dividing member pro ing chambers, av plunger plate having a plurality-of dough-pressing plungers arranged arms and extending beneath'the edges of the plunger plate, and vertical guide rods having their upper ends secured in the sockets in the frame arms and having their lower ends secured in the ears, said plunger plate having rod-receiving openings in its edges so as to permit it to reciprocate on the vertical guide rods above the ears.-

4. A dough dividing machine having, in combination, a dough pan, a frame over the dough pan, a dough dividing device for dividing the dough in the pan having a piston member mounted to reciprocate in a sliding bearing in the frame, a plunger plate above the dough dividing device having its central portion cut away to surroundthe piston member of the dough dividing device, a plu- I rality of downwardly extending plungers se-' cured to the underside of theplunger plate,

.said piston member having formed therein a downwardly opening vertical bore and having longitudinal slots cut through the piston member upon opposite sides of the bore, a

central plunger similar to, the other plungers having its upper end fitted to slide in the bore in the piston member and provided with a horizontal pin-receiving hole, and a.

horizontal pin extending through said hole and through the slots in the sides of the iston member and having its ends secure to the plunger plate, whereby the central plunger is 'moved by the plunger plate and guided by the bore in the piston member.

Signed by me at 4 Post Ofiice Square,

"Boston, Mass, this 17th day of October,

ASHLEY FlwARn.

Witnesses i WALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LoMB'Ann. 

